Arsenal forward Joel Campbell is reportedly on the verge of joining Sporting Lisbon on a season-long loan deal after an agreement was reached between the two clubs.
The Costa Rican international was not included in the Gunners squad for last weekend’s clash with Liverpool and has seen himself fall down the pecking order at the Emirates again.
Despite making 30 appearances last season in all competitions and scoring four goals, it doesn’t appear as though Arsene Wenger believes he will have a crucial role to play for the Gunners, so in turn he will now make the move to Portugal on loan, according to O Jogo.
It’s added in the report that Campbell will undergo a medical and sign the deal in ‘the coming hours’, but given that the 24-year-old was pictured training with Arsenal on Friday, it’s unclear at this stage as to how close the deal is to being made.
While it will be a disappointment for Campbell to be shipped out on loan again despite enjoying somewhat of a breakthrough last year, Wenger has numerous options in that department and evidently feels as though others are ahead in his thinking.
Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alex Iwobi will all be competing for a spot behind the main striker, and so in terms of Campbell’s development and playing time, a loan move away from north London seemingly makes plenty of sense.
Nevertheless, news of another out-going player isn’t quite what Arsenal fans were hoping for this week as they continue to await news of more new signings to bolster the squad.